Estudiante

Informal Methods of Assessment

Author: G. S. Morrison
Source: Pearson Allyn Bacon Prentice Hall
Informal assessment is a procedure for obtaining information that can be used to make judgments’about children's learning behavior and characteristics or programs using means other than standardized instruments. Observations, checklists, and portfolios are just some of the informal methods ofassessment available to early childhood educators. The table below outlines methods for informal assessment, their purposes, and guidelines for using them.
Method | Purpose | Guidelines |Observation
Kid watching- looking at children in a systematic way | Enables teachers to identify children's behaviors, document performance, and make decisions | Plan for observation and be clear about thepurposes of the observation. |
Anecdotal Record
Gives a brief written description of student behavior at one time | Provides insight into a particular behavior and a basis for planning a specificteaching strategy | Record only what is observed or heard; should deal with the facts and should include the setting (e.g., where the behavior occurs) and what was said and done. |
Running RecordFocuses on a sequence of events that occurs over time | Helps obtain a more detailed insight into behavior over a period of time. | Maintain objectivity and try to include as much detail as possible. |Method | Purpose | Guidelines |
Time sampling
Record particular events or behaviors at specific time intervals (e.g., five minutes, ten minutes) | Helps identify when a particular child demonstratesa particular behavior; helps answer the question, "Does the child do something all the time or just at certain times and events?" | Observe only during the time period specified. |
Rating scaleContains a list of descriptors for a set of behaviors | Enables teachers to record data when they are observed | Make sure that key descriptor and the rating scale are appropriate for what is being...